Qatar Olympic Committee Hosts Reception at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games

The Qatar Olympic Committee hosted an official reception at the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026, in Nagoya, Japan, on Monday, bringing together around 100 guests from across the Asian Olympic movement for an evening celebrating sport, culture, hospitality and Qatar's journey towards hosting the Asian Games in Doha in 2030.

The event was held at the Qatar delegation headquarters at the TIAD Hotel in Nagoya. It brought together representatives from National Olympic Committees, sporting organisations and delegations participating in the Games, providing an opportunity to strengthen connections across the Asian sporting community.

The reception was held under the patronage of H.E. Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Member of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Olympic Committee, and attended by H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia.

In her remarks, Sheikha Hind reflected on Qatar's experience as a host and the shared values of hospitality and connection that bring communities together through sport.

A short film screened during the evening highlighted the journey from Doha 2006 through Aichi-Nagoya 2026 and towards Doha 2030. The film placed athletes, spectators and the wider sporting community at the heart of Qatar's hosting story.

The dinner showcased Qatari culture and hospitality through a menu created by prominent Qatari chef, restaurateur and cultural ambassador Noof Al Marri. The menu offered guests an authentic expression of Qatari cuisine, highlighting the country's culinary heritage and contemporary gastronomic excellence.

A live oud performance added another element of Qatari musical heritage to the evening's cultural programme.

Before the dinner, guests were welcomed at Bayt Qatar, the House of Qatar in Nagoya. They experienced a selection of the venue's interactive cultural and digital activations and explored Qatar's sporting journey from the Doha 2006 Asian Games towards Doha 2030.

Qatar Olympic Committee Secretary General H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain said the reception was an opportunity to come together with friends and partners from across the Asian Olympic movement and celebrate the strong connections created by sport between communities.

He said Qatar's journey with the Asian Games, from Doha 2006 through Aichi-Nagoya 2026, had been shaped by the athletes, sporting organisations and people who had shared that journey. He added that bringing a part of Qatar to Nagoya through Bayt Qatar had allowed the country to share its culture, hospitality and sporting experience with its Asian family.

According to Al Buenain, the evening also provided an opportunity to reflect on that journey and look ahead to Doha 2030, when Qatar will welcome Asia back to the country.

Sheikha Asma bint Thani Al Thani, QOC Director of Marketing and International Cooperation, said the Asian Games held a special place in Qatar's sporting journey.

She noted that Doha welcomed Asia for the 2006 Asian Games and that the Games would return to Doha in four years. She said the continuing connection had brought athletes, sporting leaders and communities from across Asia together through sport.

Sheikha Asma said Bayt Qatar had been created to bring part of that journey to Aichi-Nagoya. She described it as more than a place to learn about Qatar, explaining that it was designed to let visitors experience the country's culture, hospitality and sporting story, while creating connections with people who had travelled to Japan for the Games.

She added that the Asian Games were about much more than competition, encompassing shared experiences, friendships and connections that remain long after the competition ends.

Bayt Qatar is open to everyone throughout the Games. The venue is welcoming members of the public and local communities to experience Qatar, discover its culture and share in the journey towards Doha 2030.

Qatar's participation in Aichi-Nagoya 2026 marks another chapter in the country's longstanding relationship with the Asian Games. Following Doha's hosting of the Games in 2006, Qatar has continued to develop its sporting infrastructure, expertise and experience through hosting major international events, while strengthening its connections with the wider Asian sporting community.

As preparations continue for Doha 2030, Qatar's presence in Aichi-Nagoya provides an opportunity to engage with athletes, delegations, partners and sporting organisations from across Asia. It also allows Qatar to share the culture, hospitality and experience that will help shape the next chapter of the Asian Games journey.

Bayt Qatar forms part of this engagement and remains open throughout the Games. It offers visitors a place to discover Qatari culture and heritage, learn about the development of sport in Qatar and explore the country's preparations to welcome Asia again in 2030.

Bayt Qatar has also hosted promotional activities connected to the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027. The tournament's Local Organising Committee is organising a series of promotional days in Nagoya on the sidelines of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games to introduce the upcoming tournament and highlight Qatar's preparations to host the global event next year.

The programme includes three promotional days. The first was held on 20 September, the second is scheduled for 23 September and the third and final day is scheduled for 29 September.

The activities provide an opportunity to engage with visitors to Bayt Qatar, as well as delegations and members of the international sporting community in Nagoya. They also highlight key features of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 and the fan experience awaiting visitors during the tournament.

The promotional days feature the Naismith Trophy, the FIBA Basketball World Cup trophy, allowing visitors to see it up close and take commemorative photographs. The programme also includes tournament-related interactive activities and the distribution of souvenirs to visitors.

Qatar will host the FIBA Basketball World Cup from 27 August to 12 September 2027. It will be the first edition of the tournament to be staged in the Middle East. A total of 32 national teams will compete across 92 games, with all matches taking place in Doha.

The promotional activities highlight Qatar's state of readiness to host the tournament, supported by sporting infrastructure, organisational expertise and national capabilities developed through hosting numerous major sporting events over the past two decades.

They also showcase the compact hosting model planned for Qatar 2027. All games will take place across four arenas: Lusail Arena, Al Janoub Arena, Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena and Al Duhail Arena.

The close proximity of the venues and ease of travel between them are intended to give fans the opportunity to attend more games, enjoy the tournament atmosphere and take part in accompanying activities.

The fan experience is a key priority in the Local Organising Committee's preparations. Qatar 2027 aims to provide an experience extending beyond the games inside the arenas, with fan activities and entertainment, while giving visitors the opportunity to discover Qatari culture and enjoy the country's diverse tourism experiences.

Team Qatar's swimmers also continued their Asian Games campaign in Japan, securing a place in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay final after recording 7:24.10 in the heats.

Qatar advanced to the final after a qualifying performance that maintained its presence in the swimming competitions at the continental multi-sport event. The team fielded Ali Tamer, Mohammed Mahmoud, Saad Eddin Saad Eddin and Emil Fouzaei in the heats.

In the final, the quartet finished sixth with a time of 7:20.25. Qatar's swimmers were also scheduled to return to action in several events, with Saad Eddin Saad Eddin set to compete in the men's 1500m freestyle and the 4x100m relay.

Qatar's shooting squad continued its campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, with the men's and women's skeet competitions taking place at the shooting range in Aichi Prefecture.

Rashid Saleh Al Athba, Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and Ali Ahmed Al Ishaq represented Qatar in the men's skeet. Reem Al Sharshani, Sarah Mohammed and Hajar Mohammed competed in the women's event.

The Qatari shooters produced strong performances in the men's skeet competition on the previous day, with the event continuing as they sought to build on their results and achieve further success.

In the men's 10m air rifle, Abdullah Zain Al Sunaidi and Khalid Al Sharshani each recorded 616.8 points, while Abdulrahman Ahmed finished with 616.0 points.

Qatar's beach volleyball teams also made a strong start to their Aichi-Nagoya 2026 campaign, with Qatar 1 and Qatar 2 recording victories.

Qatar 1, represented by Ahmed Tijan and Cherif Younousse, defeated the Philippines 2-0 in Group A, which also includes Oman. The Qatari pair dominated the opening set 21-7 before taking the second 21-10 to complete the match in straight sets.

Tijan and Younousse controlled the match from the outset through their understanding and concentration in reception, attack and defence. The victories reflected the readiness of the Qatari pairs and their determination to challenge for leading positions and maintain Qatar's record in beach volleyball at continental level.

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